Deciphering the long chemical names on the labels of your favorite beauty products can be frustrating. Simple ingredients like water and alcohol are easy to recognize. But long chemical names can leave even the most conscientious consumer scratching their heads.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is used in hundreds of cosmetics. There has been controversy in the past over its potential health and environmental risks. But the Cosmetic Ingredients Review Panel considers it safe for use in cosmetics. However, in early 2018, the European Union imposed restrictions on the use of D5 in cosmetic products intended to be rinsed off prior to evaporation. It has been found that concentrations above 0.1% in flushed products can accumulate in the water supply system.
Read on to learn more about this common beauty ingredient and how it can affect you and the environment.
What is Cyclopentasiloxane?
Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone regularly used in cosmetic products. It is commonly found in medical implants, sealants, lubricants, and windshield coatings.
D5 is colorless, odorless, non-greasy, and water-soluble. It does not absorb into the skin. Rather, it quickly evaporates from it. This property makes it a useful ingredient in beauty products that need to dry quickly, such as antiperspirants and hair sprays.
It also has lubricating properties. This gives a slippery and silky feel when applied to the skin and hair and allows the product to spread more quickly.
What is it used for?
D5 is known for its ability to evaporate and dry quickly. Silicones are also known to repel water and slide easily. Therefore, they are commonly used as ingredients in lubricants and sealants.
They are also known to form a protective barrier on the skin and hair. It can help you detangle your hair, prevent breakage and reduce frizz.
D5 can be found in a wide range of personal care products. Examples include:
- Hair spray
- Sunscreen
- Antiperspirant
- Deodorant
- Hair conditioner
- Shampoo
- Hair detangling products
- Waterproof mascara
- Basics
- Eyeliner
- Tone cream
- Moisturizer with SPF
- Eyeshadow
- Styling gel and lotion
- Lipstick
It sometimes appears on the label as decamethylcyclopentasiloxane or D5. It can also be classified under the broader category name Cyclomethicone.
It is different from another siloxane known as dimethicone or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
How safe is it?
One of the main advantages of D5 over similar ingredients is that it is less expensive. This helps reduce the cost of your favorite products. Of course, the lower price means manufacturers have an incentive to use it instead of other ingredients, regardless of its safety or environmental impact.
D5 has also not been found to cause skin irritation or sensitization in humans. Research shows that when used in sunscreens and lotions, it can even prevent irritation in patients with skin conditions such as rosacea.
The Bottom Line
Products containing Cyclopentasiloxane can be safely used on hair and skin with minimal personal risk. This helps your skin and hair products dry quickly and spread more easily. It can make hair silky without weighing it down. While there is concern that this ingredient can disrupt the body’s hormone production, studies show that it does not absorb into the skin in high enough doses to cause harm
